Balls can be a funny object, and sometimes they take weird bounces because of their shapes.

But for a kicker, it comes down to one thing — when toe meets leather.

For Choctaw's Jose Mendoza it was a bullet from 36 yards out that split the uprights as the time expired to give the Indians a 31-28 win over Pine Forest.

Mendoza, who was playing in just his second varsity game, rose to the occasion as he marked off his spot during the Indians' final time out with 4.1 seconds remaining. A second timeout — this one by Pine Forest to try to ice him — also had no effect on the kicker.

Chris Pickett played a huge role in the victory, as well, by picking off Pine Forest quarterback Xavier Saulsberry to give the Indians the ball with 1:49 remaining in regulation and 55 yards away from the end zone.

With just more than two minutes to play, Choctaw tied the game when Jake Fairly scored from the 1 yard line to pull the Indians within one point of Pine Forest. Mendoza calmly nailed that extra point to tie the game.

Pine Forest fell behind early in the contest 6-0, but rattled off 21 points to take a 21-6 lead.

Saulsberry set up the first Eagle score after scampering through the Indians defense for 55 yards. Ladarius Wiggins capped the two-play drive with an 18-yard TD run. Jalen Gardner extended the lead to 14-6 on a 70-yard run and, with seconds before the half, Saulsberry hit Jacob Copeland for a 40-yard TD to make it 21-6.

But the second half had a different tone and tempo as Choctaw stole any momentum Pine Forest had with their first drive.

The Indians needed only five plays, capped by a scoring run by Fairly. Pickett added the two-point conversion and the rally was on.

Choctaw completed the comeback when Fairly hit Richie Grant on a nice pass to get down to the goal line. Fairly took it upon himself to tie the game at 21-21.

Pine Forest took a brief 28-21 lead on a run by Copeland. But Choctaw came right back to tie the game and set up Mendoza's heroics.